RISE: Area around arenas now a priority; 4 more die on Everest; OT shortened

Wednesday

May 24, 2017 at 6:00 AMMay 24, 2017 at 10:50 AM

Even before the suicide bombing that killed 22 people at a Manchester, England, arena Monday night, the Chicago Cubs were evaluating ways to make the area around Wrigley Field safer.

wire reports

Areas outside of arenas becoming a bigger priority

LONDON — Even before the suicide bombing that killed 22 people at a Manchester, England, arena Monday night, the Chicago Cubs were evaluating ways to make the area around Wrigley Field safer.

The City Council Budget Committee on Tuesday approved a $1 million donation by the World Series champions for the installation of 30 security cameras around the stadium in a densely populated neighborhood. The timing was coincidental — it was in the works for over a year — but the expensive undertaking underscores how difficult it is to keep large locales secure, especially after events.

Manchester police would not say if the bomber blew himself up inside or outside the arena, so it is not clear if rigorous bag screening or additional pre-event security would have helped prevent the deaths and injuries. The venue tweeted on Monday night that it happened "outside the venue in a public space."

"The risks now are higher outside of a stadium or venue than inside," Cubs spokesman Julian Green said. "Being able to check and monitor activity outside is becoming increasingly important."

S. Korean military court convicts soldier over gay sex

SEOUL, South Korea — A South Korean military court on Wednesday sentenced an army captain to a suspended prison term for having sex with a fellow male soldier in a ruling human rights groups criticized as regressive and intimidating.

A lawyer for the captain said her client was being punished for having consensual sex with his partner in a private space. She said the captain was briefly treated at a hospital for shock following his conviction.

"It's a ridiculous ruling," said lawyer Kim In-sook. She said the military penal code, which makes homosexual activity punishable by up to two years in prison, was unconstitutional because it tramples on basic human rights and dignity.

South Korea's military, which doesn't reveal how often it pursues cases against soldiers suspected of being gay, didn't immediately make a statement.

4 bodies found inside tent at the highest camp on Everest

KATHMANDU, Nepal — Sherpa rescuers have found the bodies of four climbers inside a tent on the highest camp on Mount Everest, raising the death toll this climbing season to 10, authorities said Wednesday.

The bodies were found by a team of rescuers who were there to recover the body of a Slovak mountaineer who died over the weekend, Tourism Department official Hemanta Dhakal said.

The identities of the dead climbers in the tent were still unknown and other rescuers were heading there to learn more details.

Mingma Sherpa of Seven Summit Treks, who was coordinating the recovery of the Slovak climber's body, said the Sherpa rescuers found the four bodies on Tuesday night.

The bodies were at Camp 4 at South Col, located at 8,000 meters (26,247 feet), which is the last camp before climbers make their summit attempt. Any recovery attempt would require many Sherpas, who would have to bring the bodies down to Camp 2, from where they can be winched by helicopter.

NFL cuts OT to 10 minutes and opens up end zone celebrations

CHICAGO — NFL owners cut the overtime period from 15 minutes to 10 minutes during the regular season, but also gave players plenty of leeway to celebrate after a touchdown.

The two moves are expected to result in more tie games and much more elaborate end zone dance parties.

"I always planned all my celebrations," said Denver's Emmanuel Sanders, already known for his flamboyant TD celebrations, including one that drew a fine last season.

"Now I can go a little overboard without getting cussed out by the head coach."

At their regularly scheduled spring meeting Tuesday, the owners also decided to shift the 2021 Super Bowl to Tampa from Los Angeles, where construction delays have pushed back the expected opening of the new home for the Rams and Chargers. Those teams will now host the league's showcase event in 2022.

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